Neurophysiological method of treating a neurological disorder

Abstract

A neurophysiological method of treating muscular dysfunction caused by a neurological disorder, such as Parkinson's Disease, includes applying a predetermined pressure to the patient, so as to cause pain inhibition that blocks response to a targeted muscle at the spinal cord level, and translating the patient through a passive range of motion, while causing the pain.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A neurophysiological method of treating muscular dysfunction caused by a neurological disorder in a patient, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) accessing at least one muscle presenting a dysfunctional condition caused by the disorder;   b) applying a predetermined pressure to the patient at a targeted location, so as to cause the patient pain at the spinal cord level, wherein the pain is operable to block motor response to said at least one muscle; and   c) translating the patient through a passive range of motion, so as to manipulate said at least one muscle, while applying the pressure.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the disorder is selected from the group consisting of Parkinson's disease, Dystonia, Multiple Sclerosis, and like disorders. 
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the condition is bradykinesia, and step c) is performed at a predetermined speed operable to reduce bradykinesia. 
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein step b) further includes the steps of applying the pressure until Resistance  2  is achieved. 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein step b) further includes the steps of applying the pressure directly to said at least one muscle. 
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the condition is rigidity, said at least one muscle defines a functional length, and the passive range of motion is operable to cause the functional length to increase. 
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein step a) further includes the steps of assessing said at least one muscle to determine a pre-release range of motion prior to step a), and step c) further includes the steps of translating the patient through a range of motion greater than the pre-release range. 
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein step c) further includes the steps of translating the patient through a straight plane motion until rigidity is decreased, and then through a rotational motion. 
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 d) manipulating the patient and said at least one muscle over a period after steps b) and c), so as to reinforce the passive range of motion.   
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein step d) is performed over a period between  12  and  48  hours. 
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein step d) is performed periodically during the period, and includes causing the patient to achieve an active range of motion not less than the passive range of motion. 
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said at least one muscle is a plurality of facial muscles, and step d) further includes the steps of retaining the facial muscles in an achieved state using tape, so as to reset slow adapting mechanoreceptors. 
     
     
         13 . A neurophysiological method of treating muscular dysfunction caused by a neurological disorder in a patient, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) assessing at least one muscle presenting a dysfunctional condition caused by the disorder;   b) accessing said at least one muscle;   c) applying a predetermined pressure to the patient at a targeted location, so as to cause the patient pain at the spinal cord level, wherein the pain is operable to block motor response to the muscle;   d) causing the patient to undergo a passive range of motion, so as to manipulate the muscle, while causing the pain; and   e) causing, after the passive range of motion, the patient to undergo a follow- up regiment, so as to reinforce the passive range of motion.   
     
     
         14 . A neurophysiological method of treating muscular dysfunction caused by Parkinson's Disease in a patient, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) assessing at least one rigid muscle, so as to determine a pre-release range of motion;   b) accessing said at least one muscle;   c) applying a predetermined pressure to the patient directly to said at least one muscle, so as to cause the patient pain at the spinal cord level, wherein the pain is operable to block motor response to said at least one muscle;   d) causing the patient to undergo a passive range of motion greater than the pre-release range, so as to manipulate the muscle at a predetermined speed, while causing the pain; and   e) causing, after the passive range of motion, the patient to undergo a follow-up regiment over a period of not less than  12  hours, so as to reinforce the passive range of motion.